Adjustable valve for liquified petroleum gas lighters



Feb.'7, 1956 J. A. VIERLING 2,733,890

ADJUSTABLE VALVE FOR LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS LIGHTERS Filed June 7, 19503 A 56) (ll) l5 1 fiA 2 I z 26 '8 1 B FIG. 2. 86%1 F I G. 5.

Isnventor JOHN A.VIERL|NG (Ittorneg United States Patent Office iiiatented Feb. 7, 1956 ADJUSTABLE VALVE FOR LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GASLIGHTERS John A. Vierling, St. Paul, Minn assiguor to Brown & Bigelow,St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota n Application June 7, 1950,Serial No. 166,749

2 Claims. (21. 251-415) My invention relates to the method of making anadjustable valve for liquified petroleum gas lighters, which comprises asleeve and a cap screw processed by my method,

In carrying out my method, I provide two essential parts which include asleeve member and a cap screw which, when processed by my method, isattached to the lower end of the sleeve in adjusted position. The firststep of the method is carried out by drilling a small hole angularlyextending through the sleeve, then upsetting the periphery of the lowerend of the hole in the sleeve by a nozzle valve whenit is opened and thepyrophoric flint center punch which forms an annular raised portion theholes formed through the sleeve and through the cap screw are inalignment. Then the cap screw is drawn tighter against the bottom of thesleeve which operation places'the holes in the sleeve and the cap screwout of alignment and virtually tangential to each other. This lastadjustment in the method is regulated by the operator adjusting thevalve so that the proper size flame may be secured from the nozzle valveof the lighter which is positioned above my adjustable valve when thelighter is assembled as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

My adjustable valve includes the upper sleeve member with a cap screwsecured in the lower portion thereof and threaded to the sleeve so thatthe cap screw can be adjusted in regulating the opening for theescapement of gas through the valve. The sleeve member is positioned inthe body of the lighter and carries an O-ring of rubber or othersuitable pliable material to prevent the leakage of gas around the upperend of the sleeve when in operating position.

My lvalve is adapted to be used in conjunction with a spring operatedclosure nozzle valve, the lower end of which fits into a top recessformed in my adjustable valve and which is also adapted to close thesmall opening drilled through the sleeve when the nozzle valve is closedby means of a rubber washer which seats in the recess over the drilledhole. This nozzle valve is also provided with an O-ring seal around thelower end of the same.

In the drawings I have only shown a small portion of the body of alighter, and I have not illustrated the pyro phoric lighter element orany other form of lighter element which ignites the gas flowing throughmy valve and through the nozzle valve when the same is opened. It willbe apparent that my valve is anchored in the body of the valve so that aflame can be obtained at the top of the ignites the escaping gas. i

In a valve of this character it is extremely important that the methodbe such that it can be carried out by ordinary employees in themanufacture of lighters employing a liquefied petroleum gas andpressurevfrom a storage chamber. This I have accomplished by mytwo-piece adjustable valve and the method of making the same so as toprovide a uniformity of adjustment thereof to secure the proper sizeflame for the lighter.

A further feature of my valve resides in the two-piece construction,namely the sleeve and. the adjustable cap screw which by my method areformed with an aligned small hole for the gas to pass through, andwherein the cap screw of the valve can be adjusted toplace the holes(that were aligned when the hole was drilled through the two parts) outof alignment to a degree where the minutest adjustment or micrometrieadjustment may be made to 1 control theflsize of the passageway throughwhich the gas flows from the storagechamber of the lighter and thenthrough the nozzle valve where it is ignited as hereinbefore stated. f Va s f It is extremely essential that a valve of this character he verysimple. This I have accomplished with only two parts and by employing mymethod to complete these parts to forms valve. My valveliseasilyadjusted by unskilled labor, to give a low or high flame, and to preventthe flame from shooting higher when the lighter is first opened after ithasremained inoperativeforawhile.

I have. found with my adjustable valve and the method of making andadjusting the same'that I am able to make any number of valves whichwill give uniform adjustment,

' Then the valves areplaced as a unit in the body of the lighter belowthe nozzle valve, the function of which is only to'open and close "thelighter toshut ofi the flow of gas through my valve unit. The closing ofthe nozzle valve by itsspring shuts off the flame of the lighter.

The features, together with other objects and details of my inventionwill be more fully and clearly hereinafter setforth. f p I In thedrawings forming partof thisspecification:

Figure 1 is a, central cross sectionof the sleeve of myvalve showing thesmall hole drilled angularly through the same, which illustrates thefirst step of my method consisting in providing the sleeve and drillingthe hole there through. I p i Figure Zisa similar cross section showingthe cap screw secured to the sleeve and in the position itassumes whenthe hole is continued through the head of the cap screwbyafurtheroperation. i n i a i Figure 3 is an enlarged section detailthrough the holes formed in the sleeve and in the head of the cap screwand showing the upstanding flange or'rim formed around the hole in thesleeve which is a further step of my method, carried out by placing abeveled center punch in the lower end of the hole of the sleeve andstriking it to elevate the material of the sleeve around the hole.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the complete valve assembly of thelighter showing my valve unit held in position under the nozzle valveand'with the gas escapement holes of my valve unit out of alignment, thehole in the head of the cap screw being shown in dotted linesand- "onlya portion of. he bodyof a fighter being illustrated,

position slfo'w'n iifFig'tiref Immjmenmesor Figure is'atop viewd'fthevalve assembly without the casingof thelighter; t

Figure 6 is a bottom view (if; Figure 2 with the cap screw removed andthe inner end of the gas hole formed in the e1eeveshnwn with a raisedflange raraeaabdnrtnenele;

also showing in dotted lines the rl ati pasntsnerjtne" erein-theeairserew when the" ee reerewis ent reli'gnnient'andwrrtusnyintangenneip V The velv e 'uiiit A is sn' nin'iia' peniaa-ertne Bear B era lighter wherein a B ine sleeve nut iswhich else holds I eneve and extendin naethe recess top of the valveunitAl U 4 a In earryii 'geut r n'e'tliod,' 1' prevrae a" verve sleevefarme in the ertendt g iiiartainiifg 'g avel t in" the need of; the seev'e 12 The 11i is rern df in' et'ea of the sleev 12 for reeeiving ne"nez'zre' valve: 0 as" illustrated The nxf'stepdr the nietiidd"isc'arriedo'u't By placing a beveled center punch inthe lower end-of thehoIeI'S h internmentelevated y then "are rare, whereupon: the esciip;

gutting element" placed in the g enemy" methbdiii' the setting or the vrve unit A, I have found that a desirable settingof tlie holes be asndicated ting'o'f'thevalve ur'ntA'; Iii reality; tne'ndge 17isfiattenedbytheinner surface-of the cap screw 19 to a near degree softhatia eeinpiete metallic g'aisefitf'is M ed aajeeent' peniens of areresae'" ave holes" is are the; sea- 15*.

shiit otfany escaping gasaroi-i'rid the same.

: important 1 feature in the 'constructidn anti adjust mentof'zmy valveresides iirthc raised" ridge-or usage 17 which; compensates for any.inequalities er theisur'fa'ee 16 and the under surface-of the;cap-"screW195 Immanu fac'turinge the sleeve: 12% uncl the: capsa'screwf1-9 (wliih ordinarily are made-onscrew machines") it is' dilficulti in 1the speedof: manufacture to make the surfa'ces m and the innersurfaceofthe era of-tlie: cap%srewt 1-9 per? fectly true. Infact,r;th'essurfaees may even -show the formingwtoct: marksjhrhey; are viewed,tinder-Zia;- magnie unit 1C positioned unit A consists in: A "g stfial lliole 1s any" suitable means, not shown; sucli fying glass. For thisreason, the annular ridge 17 around the'liol '15 is'hi'ghly importantbecause it praviaessnm cient upstanding metal around the hole 15 and inrelation to the hole 15 so that in adjusting the valve unit A, theannular ridge 17 is flattened to conform with the inner surface of thehead of the cap screw 19 and thus provides virtually a perfectseal'around the inner edge of the hole liexceptwhere the hole 15' comes;into a tangent position with the periphery: of the; hole 15.

In this manner, I provide a controllable seal in the valve unit A anthat when the operator sets the valve unit A to provide the requiredamount of" flowofigas through the holes 15 and 15' to the nozzle valveunit C, the operator is assured that the valve unit A can be easilyadjusted without the exercise ofexpert skill and perfectly machinedparts.

In carrying out my method, where I provide the sleeve 1;, it isimportant thatthe surface 16 be such as to conform with the innersurfeee of the cap screw 19; Howeve'r, the machine tools used in makingthese erson screw machines or lathes, particularlywlierehigli speemanufacture is necessary, it is not possible to economi call-y polishthe surface 16 of the inner'suifa'ce'of :the cap screw 19 to a perfectfitl Thus; I upset are inner end of the hole15as illustrated intthe ennrea'dia remman'einusnanen in Figure 3', which shovi/sthe annularprojectingridge 17 extending" around the lower 'eii'd of thehole I5.Then when the valve unit A is adjiistedby turning the cap'screw 191mthc'tlireads 20 of the sleeve 12,10 set'th'e holes 15' and 15' in properrelation to erinitithe correct amount er gas to escapefrom'the'chaiiiber" through the lioles'l's and 15', the annular ridge 17is flattened or squeezed into shape t'o'conforiri with the surface ofthe inner surface of" the cap screw to give the proper gas seal.betwee'n the passageways 15' and 15 and also to provide a frictionalengagement between the sleeve 12 and the inner surface of the head ofthe cap" screw 19. This frictional engagement with the ridge 17 operatesto hold the cap screw 19 in set adjusted position.

The top of the'sleeve 121s forme with a slot 25 while the cap screw 19"is formed with'a screw driver slot 26. These slots permit the unit A tobe adjusted by engaging .the slots 25 and 26 with tne roper tools topermit the respectivepa'rts'fl and 19 to be adjusted in relation to eachother in the'settingf of the valve'uriit A for the proper amount of fiowof gas through the Sadie.

It will'he apparent that if'the surface-16 of 'the sleeve 12 is polishedto a smooth and true urface" ahd' the inner surface of the cap? screw 19which contacts surface 16 is also finished in this manner sothat'th'fetwo surfaces are absolutely true in relation to eacho'th eftogive -a comple te' contaet th'er'ebetween; then' the'ridgc' 17 wouldnotbe necessarybecaiise'thefe would be virtually" no'l e'akingot gasfbetwe'en the surface 16'aiid' the nine? surfacejofthe cap. screw 19 whenthe cap" screw 19 is screwed tight against the surface 16.

1. An adjustable valve for liquified petroleum gas lighters; includingasleeve; a cap screw threaded into the bottoni of said sleeve;ase'aling- O-ri-ng-rec'ess formed in the wall of said sleeve,-a small"gas passagewayformed the passageways formed in said sleeve and the headof said cap screw.

2. In an adjustable valve, a sleeve member having a threaded hole formedtherein and a smooth bottom end portion, a cap member having a threadedshank portion positioned in said hole of said sleeve with the capportion against said bottom of said sleeve, said cap and said sleevehaving a hole formed axially therethrough when the same are together,said holes being movable in and out of register with each other for thecontrol of gas passing therethrough and between said cap and said bottomend portion of said sleeve.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS150,517 Brooks May 5, 1874

